Blueberry River veto casts a long shadow

Implications of settlement between British Columbia and First Nations group go beyond development of massive Montney shale formation

The British Columbia (BC) government’s decision to settle with the Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN), rather than appeal against a 2021 court ruling, could be even worse news for Canadian oil and gas development than previous legal decisions to date. Indigenous people in Canada have gained increasing control over industrial development on their lands through several federal Supreme Court decisions over the past two decades. The rulings relate to Section 35 of Canada’s 1982 constitution, which states the federal government must consult First Nations when projects could negatively impact their communities and their traditional way of life. But the Blueberry River decision and recent settlem